The tropical playground of Puerto Plata has come a long way from its notorious beginnings as a hub of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Now host to the annual Bride of the Atlantic surfing festival, the busy port on the Dominican Republic’s north coast is a magnet for history buffs as well as beach lovers.

Likely top stories this week: the deadline passes for children of undocumented immigrants to apply for legal status in the Dominican Republic; U.S. companies stand to lose billions of dollars in Venezuelan currency losses; Michelle Bachelet moves to end Chile’s abortion ban; relatives of Mexico’s 43 missing students meet with UN officials in Geneva; Puerto Rico’s economy continues to suffer.

Dominican President Danilo Medina arrived in Puerto Rico yesterday to meet with Puerto Rican Governor Alejandro García Padilla in a series of meetings aimed at creating stronger ties between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, as well as improving relations in Latin America and the Caribbean.